Ornamental member fastening means



March 12, 1940.y G. A. LYON onNmENTAL MEMBER FASTENING mams Filed July 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2f /8 Z2 l2 fs ar"v @50.905 /LeEer L you.

Mann 12, 1940. A YQN 2,193,106

ORNAMENTAL MEMBER FASTENING MEANS Filed July 29. A19257 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 T o f///////////////////,f, E7

Patented Mar. l2, 1940 y UNITED s'ra'rlasf P.krr-:NrY cammini. .rsmsmmc mums George Albert LUM. mmh N. I.

Illy 29, 1937, Suhl N0. 153,28.

l Claims.

This invention relates to an ornamental memyber fastening means, and more particularly to a means for detachablysecuring an ornamental member to a vehicle wheel which permits the ornamental member to be mounted with very little effort but which requires a relatively great l force to disengage the ornamental member fromv the wheel.

In designing ornamental members adapted to be secured on the outer side of a wheel and to the means for securing the same thereon, it is considered important to provide a construction which may quickly and easily be assembled, which will not accidentally come oil due to vibration or sudden jar, and which may readily be disass embled when desired. The most desirable construction, therefore, would include a mounting means which requires very little force to assemble the ornamental member on the wheel. but which requires a relatively great force to remove the ornamental member from the wheel. more, a mounting means of the above type preferably should be hidden from view in the assembled position ofthe ornamental member on the wheel. Due to the fact that in practice an v ornamental member is frequently removed from the wheel in order to adord access to the wheel mounting bolts, it is alsov deslrablelto provide some iorm of attaching means for detachably securing the ornamental member' to the wheel which may readily be replaced when broken or otherwise unfit for use.`

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel attaching means for detachably securing an ornamental member for a wheel 'which possesses the above highly desirable characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel wheel assembly including novel means for mounting an ornamental member on a wheel. which is economical to manufacture, and which is rugged and reliable in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and means of mounting an orsecuring orattaching means being'fastened toy of the the wheel by a wedging or biting action tail portion of the means.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel form o1' easy-on hard-od at- Further- OFFICE JUN 161942 (c1. soi-s1) taching means for detachably securing an ornamental member to ayehicle wheel, the attaching means being secuiedtothe-wheelmanovel manner. v

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide means for mounting an' ornamental member on a wheel including a plurality of leaf spring ornamental member retaining elements of novel design, which elements operate in a novel manner to detachably secure an ornamental member to a wheel. v

The novel features which I believe to be characteri'stic of my invention' are set forth' with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction,together with'further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

'Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, of the upper half of a wheel assembly including an ornamental member and novel means for mounting the ornamental member on the wheel; s

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a wheel assembly, a portion of the ornamental member being broken away to show the means for mounting the ornamental member on the wheel Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the spring clip elements which is employed in the Vform of the invention illustrated in' Figures- 1 vand 2 to detachably secure the ornamental memy ber to the wheel;

Figure 4 is an enlargedv fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross section, showing the manner inV which the spring clip element is secured to thewheel; 4

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of the structure shown in the upper portieri.1 oi Figure 1 illustrating the various positions assumed by thewfree end of the spring clip as the ornamental member ismoved into desired position on the wheel;

Figure 6 is a side elevational, view, cross section, ofthe upper half of a wheelassembly illustrating an ornamental member of diiierent conilgurationfrom that shown in Figure 1 but having substantially the same form of ornamental wheel; A l

Figure 7y is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in crosssection, of the upper portion of Figure 6; and

member retaining means on the Figure 8 is a fragmentary Velevational view 55 illustrating a/diiferent form of ornamental member lretaining element in which the end of the tail portion of the element makes a biting engagement with the base of the wheel rim rather than with a portion of the wheel body part.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 o! the drawings, the Vwheel assembly illustrated includes a wheel I0 having a rim part II and a body part opposite side '4i-langes I4, opposite intermediate flanges I5, and opposite edge portions I6. 'Ihe 'body part I2 of wheel II), asvmay readily be portion,20, andan outwardly extending innen wall portion '2I. The wall portion 2| is provided a+ -a plurality of circumferentially spaced points with outwardly extending tab portions 22. .At a plurality of circumferentially spaced points intermediate tab portions 22 areenlarged radially inwardly extending portions 23 which are apertured as at 24'for the reception of the l usual wheel fastening bolt z5. Radiany inward.

' manner.

ly extending portions 23 preferably form a continuation of the base wall 2d of the annular recess I8.' In this manner a portion of the base wall 20 of recess i8 and the inner surface orV portions 23 are adapted to abut the wheel fastening plate 26 of the brakedrum 2l. Itis to` be understood that the wheel fastening bolts @E extend through apertures 24 intothreadedengagement with suitable apertures (notshown) in the-wheel fastening plate ethereby'to secure'the wheel Ill to the vehicle in the usual An ornamental member 28 is mounted over the outer face of the wheel tu. The ornamental member 28 may, of coursek be of any dmrw conguration whichv is pleasing tothe eye and which enhance 'the general appearance or the vehicle; As shown in Figure i of the drawings, ornamental member 2,8 includes a central dome shaped portion Q9 which in general ninnlates the usual vehicle hub cap, an intermediate portion 30, and an outer apron 3i. Securedtovthe underside of ornamental member 28 approximately at the junction point of intermediate portion 30 and outer apron 3l is an oblique- `the outer edge of the ornamented member terminates, however, is not of the; essence or Y the present invention, wd as wm readily be understood by those sinlled'in the art, the form of the ornamental mer-nner may m varied through wide limits minuut der-rerum from the spirit and-scope of the present nvenon.,

Thencvelornammtalmmser i The rim II is illustrated as being of theusual drop .Center typehaving a base flange Il,

aisance which forms one of the cardinal featuresof the present invention, will now be described.

Asmaybeseen bestinFlgures3 and4 ofthe drawin'ss, the spring clips 34 which are employed to detachably secure the ornamental member 2l to the wheel Il are formed from a piece of resilient steel which was originally taken from nat stock. Resilientv clip 34 includes. a tail portion 35 which is bent back at an -oblique langle with respect to the intermediate portion IB of clip 34,

The forward end 31 of the clip Il is bentback at an oblique angle toward tail portion 3l and terminates in an .end portion -38 which is bent inwardly with respect to Vthe intermediate portion at approximately a 90 angle with respect to the forward portion 31. For

wheel byinserung the tau portion :rand the portion of the intermediate section 3,6 to the rear of jog 39 through an aperture 40 in tab 22 of wheel I0. It is to be understood that eachy tab circumferentially spacedabout wheel I0 provided with an aperture 40 near its outer end. This aperture is slightly wider Ithan the width of the spring clip 34 and is slightly broader than the thickness dimension of the spring clip M- Y After the spring clip .3l has been 'inserted through aperture 4h in tab 22, as itis shown in its full line position in Figure 44, the spring clip so 'l l is rocked in a counterclockwi'se direction until it has assumed the position shown in the dotted line in Figure 4. This rocking rnotion'mayv be accomplished in any suitable manner such es by forcing the tail portion 35 back with a screwdriver or other suitable implement. When the spring clip S4 is in the position shown in the dotted .unes in Figure 4, it will be understood that it will be very dlicult to remove the clip due to the fact that tip end 4@I of the tail portion 3&5 makes a biting engagement with the outer wall t9 of annular recess i8. Tinti'. is to say, due to the fact that the tail portion 35 of is and the-inner wall 2i of the annular recess le and due to the-fact that the tail portion 3l extends forwardly in the recess at an oblique angle, 'it is clear that the spring clip 3l is very E the spring clip is wedged between the outer wall,

nrmly and tightly secured to the wheel without necessitating a weiding, riveting, or similar operation. Although the portion of the tail 35 of spring clip 3l adjacent the intermediate portion 3B of the clip is shown as resting against the base wall 20 of annular recess i8, it is to 'be understood that this is not necessary, since the Y wedging action is primarily effected by the eneasement ofthe outer wall I9 and the inner wall. .d5

2i of the recess Id.

Although the number of spring clips SB which are employed on a Vwheel may be varied without demrting from the spirit and scope of the inven-v tion, it has been found' that if uve clips are mountedon the wheel, a very eective and satisiaetory form of attaching means is obtained.

Figure 'd or' the drawings illustrates how the ree end o the spring clip all isnened .as the ornamental member 2d is being moved into deaired mation on the wheel and also arcaico' the manner inwhich this spring effects an easyis necessary to remove theornamental member on hard-oil securing engagement with the ornamental member 28. `Iheshort dotted lines in Figure 5illustrate the spring clip 34 andthe ornamental member 28 in their respective positions when vthe underturned edge 33 of the iastening skirt 32 is :drst moved into contact with the forward portion 31 of the clip. The spring, as shown in the short dotted lines. is thus in its 'unflexed position. As movement of the ornamental member 28 is continued to the left. the underturned edge 33' rides along the forward portion 31 of the spring clip 34 thereby exing it inwardly.` The position of the spring clip 34 and the ornamental member 28 as the underturned edge 33 of the latter reaches the high point of the clip is shown in the long dotted lines in Figure 5 of the drawings. It is to be noted that due to the fact that the point of exure of the forward portion 31 `of spring clip 34 is rearwardly of the point of engagement of the orna- 'mentai member with the forward portion 31,

taken with respect to the directionof motion of. member 38, the spring is very readily flexed by 'clip 34. rides up behind the underturned edge 33 until it assumes the position as shown in the full lines in Figure'. By virtue of the fact that the end portion 38 of the spring clip 34 is on the opposite side of the under-turned edge 3s from the move the ornamental member 28 from the wheel .v

l0, the point of exureof the spring element 34 is no longer to the rearoi the underturned edge 33 with respect to the direction ofmotion of the That is to say, the point ornamental member 28. of flexure, which is indicated generally at 42, is to the right of the point of engagement of the spring clip`34 with the underturned edge 33, and due to the fact that it is necessary to remove the ornamental member 28 by moving it to the right, a'relatively great force is required to effect this movement. 'I'his is by reason of the fact that spring clip 28 tends to buckle in its middle rather than flex downwardly out of the path of the underturned Vedge 33 as it did when the-omamental member 28 was being mounted on the wheel. Because the end portion V38 is at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of the wheel, however, it will readily be apparent that it is possible to cause a downward ilexure of the forward portion 31 if a sufdciently great force is applied to the ornamental member 28. The amount of force which is necessary to remove the ornamental member 28 from the wheel assembly may be adjusted by varying the angle at which the forward portion 31 extends`away from its point of iiexure 42, or by varying the angle at which the end portion 38 is disposed with respect to the direction o f the removal force (that is to.

say, with respect to the horizontal). T'he amount of force that is necessary to remove the ornamental member 28 from the wheel may also be adjusted by varying the distance between the point of contact of the end portion 38 and the underturned edge 33 and the high point of the spring clip 34. That is to say. by increasing the amount of the end portion 3,8 which extends up behind the underturned edge 33, the force which will be self-centered on the wheel.

ornamental member from the wheel.

28 is increased. l l

From the above description, it will be apparent thatI have provided an extraordinarily simple, yet effective ent for detachablysecuring an ornamental member to a wheel. The novel arrangement permits the ornamental member to be mounted on th. wheel by simply moving it axially inwardly against the side of the wheel. particular arrangement, the ornamental member Furthermore, it is to be observed that while only a very slight pressure o n the outside of the ornamental member is necessary to snap it into retaining engagement with` the novel spring clips 'which are carried on the wheel (in fact, it has been found in practice that an ornamental member or the character described may be mounted by simply pressing it on with one 'or two lingers), a relatively great force is necessary to dismount the venlent method for .dismounting the ornamental member from the wheel is to insert the end of a screwdriver or other pry-off tool within the reentrant groove on the 'outer edge of the ornamental member 28 immediately above the fastening skirt 82, and then give the screwdriver or tool a sharp jerk.

In Figures 6 and '1 0I the drawings, a form of I the invention is shown in which the novel form of spring clips which are shown in the preferred embodiment of the invention are the same but wherein a different type of ornamental member is adapted to be secured thereby. Those portions of the wheel assembly which are the same as corresponding elements in the embodiment o'f the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of Athe drawings' have been given the same reference characters. The wheel I3 including rim II- and body part I2 is shown as beingof identical form as that shown in Figure 1, and the springy clips 34 which are employed to detachably secure the ornamental member to the wheel are of substantially the same form as those previously described, with the exception that the forward portion 31 is preferably slightly shorter than that shown in ligure 1. An ornamental member 43 having a different form than that previously describedis provided in this embodiment of the invention. More particularly, ornamental member 43 includes a central dome-shaped portion 44, an intermediate portion 45, and an outer apron portion 46. Instead of providing the ornamental member 43 with a separate attaching the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ornamental member is provided with a reentrant groove 41 which extends rearwardly and inwardly at an oblique angle thereby providing an integral intermediately disposedfastening ange It should also be noted that with this One con- 48 with which the end portion 38 of the spring 432 of Figure 1. After the. inner end of the iiange 48 passes over the high point of the spring clip 34 between forward portion 31 and end portion 38, the end portion 38 snapsfinto position behind the ilange 48 to rmly and securely hold the 'ornamental member .43 in desired position on ythe wheel. v 'I'he ornamental member 4.3 is removed 55 skirt such as was described in connection with from the wheel by inserting a screwdriver or other suitable pryoi tool in the reentrant groove ll and giving the t'ool a sharp jerk thereby causing the ornamental member 43 to move axially 6 outwardly away from the wheel.

Another modification of this invention is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. The wheel I5 in this form of the invention includes a rim IIl having a base ilange I3, opposite side ilanges,. "l opposite intermediate flanges I5, and opposite edges I5. The body part I2 of the wheel includes a laterally extending outer flange -49 which isv secured to base flange I3 of rim II in any suitable manner such as by welding. riveting, or the 15 like. and an intermediate portion 5U which has a plurality -of circum'ieren'tially spaced tabs 5I struck out therefrom in the manner shown in- Figure 8. Body part I2 is provided with a circular fastening ange 52 which is similar in 20 shape to the annular recess portion I8 of Figure 1, with the exception that thettabs 22 of Figure 1 have been omitted. The circular fastening ange w 52 is provided with suitable apertures (not shown) through which the usual wheel fastening bolts4 35 drawings, the .tan portion 3s andthe portion of the immediate part 35 to the rear of the jog 38 are slipped through the apertures 53 and wedged into the position shown in Figure 8. V

Inthis form of the invention, it is to be not@ ,'that the tip 49 of the tail portion extends into biting engagement with'the base ange i3 of rim II rather than into engagement with a portion of the body Vpart i2. For this reason,

the tail portion 35 of the spring clip t is .slightlyA longer Athan that of the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will thus be understood that tail portion of each spring clip is wedged between a portion of the body part i2 of the wheel and a portion of the rim II.

An ornamental member 55 is provided for the wheel which is similar in its general v tion to the ornamental member Il! shown in Figure 6. More speciiically, the ornamental member55 includes a central dome-shaped portion 55, an intermediate portion 5l, and an outer aln 58 whichl terminates in an imderturned curled edge 59. Near the outer edge. of the ornamental member d5 o. reentrant groove @l is provided which forms an obliquely rearwardly @9 and inwardly extending fastening ange 5I which is adapted tobeengaged by the end portion te of the spring clip 5l.

e mer in which the ornamental member es is mounted onthe wheel it) and the manner in which the spring clips ed engage the obliquely inwardly turned 'enge @i to est an is the e as that describedin connowitli the preferred embodimentof the invention.

From the above description, it will be seen that have provided extra ple, yet eectivemethod-and t it for moving orna= mental mem on wheels. Ime novel, means by which the reventa] con', is 'lhably t@ i e. to the wheel includes the L. bis

ion 'hard-oil detachable engagent th in ular t arcaico y t characteristics which reomireonlyaV slight `de formation force to amemble the ornamental memberonthewheeLbutwhichreqlnrearelatively great force todismount the me'mberfrom thewheel. 'I'he novelsecuringmeansisalso 5 of a form which may be very economically and quickly asembied on a vehicle wheel and eliminates the need for welding or riveting the clip to' the wheel. l While I have shown particular embodiments lo of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish tobe limited'thereto, `since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by' the appended claims to cover all such modications as fall within the true spirit andscope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. With a wheel having an irregularcross sectional conilguration and having an ornamental member disposed thereon, an attaching means for detachabiy securing th member to the wheel comprising a plurality of self-securing resilient clips .each having. al tail portion adapted to ybe wedged between radially spaced portions of said irregular surface of said wheel. thereby to secure said clips to said wheel, and each of said clips having a free intermediate portion bent obliquely back on itself and terminating in a member engaging end portion .which is bent Aat a substantial angle to said obliquely bent portion, said end porl tion being adapted to extend l'behind an annular portion of said member.

2. With a wheel having an annular recess in f. its outer face and an ornamental member having an underturned fastening ange disposed 35 over saidouter face, an attaching means for v detachably securing the member to the wheel comprising a' plurality of resilient clips for dis-` position in said recess, each of said clips having a tail portion which extends across said recess and makes a biting engagement vwith a wall thereof, and each of said clips liavinga free end `portion bent obliquely back on itself into engagement with said underturned fastening e of said member, said free end portion being bent in s such a manner that when said member is being mounted on said wheel the clips are easily nexed but when said member is being removed from said wheel the clips are very difllcult to ilex.

withawheelhavinganannularrecessing@ its outer face and la plurality of tabsextendingV out from the inner wall ofthe recess having apertures therein, and an ornamental member disposed over said outer face having an obliquely radially inwardly and axially rearwardly extending attaching skirt with an underturned inner edge; attaching means for detachably securing the member to the wheel comprising a plurality of resilient leaf spring elements, each element extending through an aperture in said tabs along w the radialinner wall of said recess and then across the recess into biting engagement with the radial outer wall of said recess, the outer portion of each element being bent .obliquely axially fw i f and radially outwardly on itself and e5 then obliquely axially "wt-lf and radially m a member engaging end portion, `said end portions of said elements being adapted 4 to engage said underturned edge oi' said .fastenskirt on the side away from'sai'd wheel.` i .zo d. In an oental member and wheel assemoomprising a wheel having rim .antibody parte. d an ornamental. member having an groove g an v'rff sico l.1

v ment with said rim.

tionover an outer part of said wheel, said body part having an annularrecessed portion on its outer face, the combination therewithof attaching means for detachably securing the member to the wheel comprising a plurality of spring clips each having an axial outward portion engageable with said fastening ange of said ornamental member, and a tail portion extending obliquely axially outwardly from the inner wall of said recess into biting engagement with the outer wall of said recess.

5. In an ornamental member and wheel assembly comprising a wheel having rim and'body parts, and an ornamental member having an annular reentrant groeve forming anobliquely inwardly'extending fastening iiange for disposition over an outer part of said wheel, said body part having a radially outwardly facing shoulder, the combination therewith of attaching means for detachably securing the member to the wheel comprising a plurality of spring clips each having an axial outward portion engageable with said fastening iiange of said ornamental member, and a tail portion extending obliquely axially outwardly from said shoulder into biting engage- 6. In an ornamental member and wheel assembly comprising a wheel havingl rim and body parts, and an ornamental member having an obliquely inwardly extending fastening ange for disposition over an outer part of said wheel, said.

body part :having a radially outwardly facing shoulder and a plurality oi.' circumierentially spaced apertured tabs extending from the outer edge of the shoulder, the combination therewith of attaching means for detachablysecuring the member to the wheel comprising a plurality of spring clips each having an axial outward portion bent obliquely back on itself towards the rim of said wheel which terminates in a bent tip portion engageable with said fastening iiange, the

central portion of. said clip being bent to extend through an aperture in s aid tab along the base of said shoulder, and a tail portion on said clip extending obliquely axially outwardly from said shoulder into biting engagement with a portion of said wheel. A

7. In an ornamental member and wheel assembly comprisingr a wheel having rim and body parts, and an ornamental member having an obliquely inwardly extending fastening flange for disposition over an outer part of said wheel, said body part` having a` radially outwardly facing shoulder and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertured tabs extending from the outer edge of the shoulder, the` combination therewith member to the wheel comprising a plurality of spring clips each having an axial outward portion engageable with said fastening ange to detachably retain said member on said wheel, and an intermediate portion extending through an aper# GEORGE ALBERT ,of attaching means for detachably securing the 

